Wireless Private Branch Exchange (wpbx) and Communicating Between Mobile Units and Base Stations

1. In a wireless communication system comprising a base station connected with a mobile unit, a method of detecting and synchronizing with the mobile unit prior to receiving a handoff of a session with the mobile unit, comprising: from the base station connected with the mobile unit, sending rough synchronization information to at least one neighboring base station; at the neighboring base station, performing a wide-range search for target signals having the correct timing for a mobile unit, based on the rough synchronization information provided by the base station which is connected with the mobile unit; narrowing the search for an actual signal from the mobile unit; acquiring the target signal; and synchronizing the neighboring base station to the base station connected with the mobile unit.

2. Method, according to claim 1 , wherein: the mobile unit is equipped with a short-range wireless communication transmitter/receiver.

3. Method, according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile unit is a device selected from the group consisting of: telephone handset, standard cordless telephone handset, cellular telephone handset, personal data device, personal digital assistant (PDA), computer, laptop computer, e-mail server, a device utilizing point-to-point protocol (PPP) to the Internet via a central remote access server, a headset, a personal server, a wearable computer, a wireless camera, and a mobile music player.

4. Method, according to claim 1 , further comprising: providing communication links between the base stations, wherein the communication links between the base stations are selected from the group consisting of RF links and land lines; and transferring connection status information and rough synchronization information between the base stations over the communications links.

5. Method, according to claim 1 , wherein: the base stations and the switch are connected via a wired or wireless local area network (LAN).

6. Method, according to claim 1 , wherein: the wireless communication system comprises a wireless private branch exchange (WPBX) handling calls from mobile units comprising handsets.

7. In a wireless communication system comprising a base station connected with a mobile unit, a method of synchronizing at least one neighboring base station to the base station connected with the mobile unit, the method comprising: from the base station connected with the mobile unit, sending call parameters and rough synchronization information to the at least one neighboring base station, said call parameters being related to a connection between the mobile unit and the base station connected with the mobile unit; and at the at least one neighboring base station, monitoring transmissions of at least one of: the base station connected with the mobile unit; the mobile unit; and a beacon signal from a beacon transmitter which is within range of the at least one neighboring base station and the base station connected with the mobile unit; wherein the base station connected with the mobile unit sends said call parameters and said rough synchronization information to the at least one neighboring base station over a LAN.

8. In a wireless communication system comprising a base station connected with a mobile unit, a method of synchronizing at least one neighboring base station to the base station connected with the mobile unit, the method comprising: from the base station connected with the mobile unit, sending call parameters and rough synchronization information to the at least one neighboring base station, said call parameters being related to a connection between the mobile unit and the base station connected with the mobile unit; and at the at least one neighboring base station, monitoring transmissions of at least one of: the base station connected with the mobile unit; the mobile unit; and a beacon signal from a beacon transmitter which is within range of the at least one neighboring base station and the base station connected with the mobile unit; wherein said call parameters are related to the connection between the base station connected with the mobile unit and the mobile unit.